Ground Stars / 地上星 · Ch.138 第138章 跟踪
第138章 跟踪
Chapter 138: Tracking
｛对啊学林队长，咱们这次外派真是好赚啊，每人每天都有五十年时序，还有免费香丸领，我两个卖了三百年，美滋滋耶。｝
{Yeah, Squad Leader Yuan, this field mission is such a good deal! Each of us gets 50 years of Chronos per day, plus free incense pills. I sold two for 300 years—nice and easy, right?}
袁学林几人聊天的同时，李智南忽然感觉一阵凉风刮过。
As Yuan Xuelin and the others chatted, Lee Zhinan suddenly felt a gust of chilly wind sweep past.
空气中的小虫都被这道突然出现的气浪掀飞，撞到垂下树枝的藤蔓上。 远处通过虫子看著这一幕的几人顿时觉得一阵天旋地转。
The tiny insects in the air were sent flying by this sudden blast of air, crashing into the branches draped with vines. Far away, the few watching this scene through the bugs immediately felt a dizzying swirl of the world.
｛安静，有情况。｝
{Quiet, there’s something going on.}
灌木丛边的李智南猛地一抖，他疑惑回头看了眼无风自动的叶子，赶紧系紧了皮带。
Lee Zhinan, standing by the bushes, gave a sudden start. He turned back with doubt to see the leaves rustling despite no wind, then quickly fastened his belt.
李智南摸了摸头上出现的虚汗，又看了眼手中的一节冒著莹莹红光的树茎后，见周围并无其它异相，才放心下来。
Wiping the cold sweat that had appeared on his forehead, Lee Zhinan glanced at the branch in his hand, which was glowing faintly red, and only relaxed when he saw no other unusual signs around him.
「唉，自己吓自己。」
“Sigh, just scaring myself.”
不过他莫名感觉，周围气氛似乎有点更为阴凉。
Yet he inexplicably felt that the atmosphere around him had grown somewhat more eerie and chilly.
随著这人影的靠近，黑暗中，山巅附近的空中浮现出道人形幻影。
As this figure drew near, a phantom silhouette of a person began to materialize in the dark air above the mountaintop.
他如神灵般注视著下方，眼神中散发著披靡一切的漠然。
It gazed down like a deity, its eyes radiating a disdainful indifference that swept over everything.
此刻在其眼中，李智南周身被一道坚韧的能量层所覆盖，犹如一朵朵不断盛开后呈波纹扩散的鲜花。
In his eyes at this moment, Lee Zhinan’s entire body was enveloped by a resilient energy layer, like blooming flowers spreading out in ripple-like patterns.
这不光是因为李智南体内所更换的王朝光的器官，还因他手上所抱著的这色泽濡润的木头所蕴含的能量，让李智南的能力得到增强。
This was not only due to the replacement of Wang Chaoguang’s organs within Lee Zhinan’s body, but also because of the energy contained in the moist, glossy piece of wood he held in his arms, which enhanced his abilities.
所过之处，就连疯狂的野兽遇见，目光也变得柔和，不再攻击自己。
Wherever he passed, even the frenzied beasts softened their gaze upon seeing him, refraining from attacking.
｛这节木头真是宝物。｝
{This piece of wood is truly a treasure.}
心灵中，绷带的声音传来，让李智南身心微颤。
In his mind, the voice of the bandages echoed, causing a slight tremor in Lee Zhinan’s body and mind.
同样的话，也在李智南身旁隐形的列车中响起，看著他所握东西的洛宾嘴角都快流出口水了，「这是宝物啊！ 原来这就是A级交错空间，好东西可真不少！」
The same words resonated within the invisible train beside Lee Zhinan, and Robin Lo, seeing what he was holding, almost drooled at the corner of his mouth. “This is a treasure! So this is an A-class Crosspace—there are so many good things!”
……
山底隧洞内，藤蔓抖动扩散，露出隐匿其中的通道。
Inside the tunnel at the mountain’s base, the vines trembled and spread apart, revealing a hidden passage.
｛你来了。｝
{You have arrived.}
顶著王朝光面容的李智南举起手中的茎块，不断散发出能量波纹，与前方那堵住整个通道的植物不断相呼应。
Lee Zhinan, bearing Wang Chaoguang’s face, raised the stem block in his hand, continuously emitting energy ripples that resonated with the plant blocking the entire passage ahead.
「它里面已集齐五万时序。」
“It has already gathered fifty thousand Chronos within itself.”
大树般的藤蔓主干颤动，露出人脸道：
The massive tree-like main vine shuddered, revealing a human face, which spoke:
｛很好，有了它已经能让我离开这里，去到山外了。｝
{Excellent. With this, I can already leave this place and venture beyond the mountains.}
嗖嗖，藤蔓在四周墙壁上窜动，两道小藤蔓衍生下来，将它裹住。
Whoosh, the vines surged along the surrounding walls as two smaller tendrils extended downward to wrap around it.
｛人类，你帮了我大忙。放心，我会按照约定赐予你可以供人类修行的秘技。｝
{Human, you have done me a great favor. Rest assured, I will bestow upon you the secret technique for human cultivation, as promised.}
列车中，洛宾大喜的小声对杨子藏激动道：「原来这就是秘技的由来，真不知道这里出现的秘技会是什么！」
Inside the train, Robin Lo gleefully whispered excitedly to Yang Zicang, “So this is the origin of the secret technique. I wonder what kind of secret technique will emerge here!”
「安静点，我们不能让它获得这截木头，它得到五万年时序实力肯定会暴涨。」
“Keep your voice down. We can’t let it obtain that piece of wood. With fifty thousand years of Chronos, its strength will surely skyrocket.”
「至少得等秘技交出来再说吧？」
“At least wait until it hands over the secret technique first, right?”
此刻李智南的心中也响起了绷带的声音：
At that moment, a voice from the bandages echoed in Lee Zhinan’s mind:
｛问它秘技是什么，是不是精神或念能力相关？｝
{Ask it what the secret technique is. Is it related to spirit or psychic abilities?}
李智南不敢迟疑半分，立即抬头看着树干上的大脸道：
Lee Zhinan wasted no time and immediately looked up at the large face on the tree trunk, asking:
「请问，秘技是精神或念能力相关的吗？」
“Excuse me, is the secret technique related to spirit or psychic abilities?”
沉缓的声音响起：
A slow, deep voice rumbled forth:
｛当然不是。我的秘技，可以让你消耗五行元素或星元…哦，现在世界的大多数人都还没有星元对吧。或许消耗生命力也可以，能快速催熟植物。｝
{Of course not. My secret technique allows you to consume the five elements or Stellar Energy… Ah, most people in this world don’t possess Stellar Energy yet, do they? Perhaps consuming life force would work as well—it can rapidly accelerate plant growth.}
一道小光团出现在空中。
A small orb of light materialized in the air.
｛星元…｝
{Stellar Energy…}
光团内的精灵嘀咕着将笔在皱巴巴的纸张上记录着。
The spirit within the light orb murmured as it jotted down notes on a crumpled piece of paper with a pen.
「居然是催熟植物。」杨子藏心中一动。
“It’s actually a plant-ripening technique.” Yang Zicang’s heart stirred.
不论是盯着这里的袁学林一行，还是靠小记者视角突然看到这画面的枢纽镇情报室之人，都心中暗叹，催熟植物这在失频之地是很珍贵的技能。
Whether it was Yuan Xuelin’s group keeping watch here, or those in the Hubville intelligence room suddenly glimpsing this scene through the little reporter’s perspective, everyone sighed inwardly. The plant-ripening technique was a rare and valuable skill in the Shibin Wastes.
要是学会，那些稳定好的地块上就能快速长出树木提供木料与柴火。
If one learned it, trees on stable plots of land could grow quickly, providing timber and firewood.
以后的冬天，有充足柴火的失频之地会少冻死很多人，更别说食物的获取了。
In the winters to come, the Shibin Wastes, with abundant firewood, would see far fewer deaths from cold—not to mention the gain in food procurement.
但对绷带医生以及无影这种独行客来说，它的价值还不足以让人放弃精神与念能力相关的物品。
Yet for lone wanderers like the Bandage Doctor or Wuying, its value was still not enough to make them abandon items related to psionics or willpower abilities.
听到内心的声音继续指挥后，李智南压下对秘技的渴望，道：
Hearing the inner voice continue to command, Lee Zhinan suppressed his craving for the secret technique and said,
「请问，这座山的上面还有什么，覆盖这么大范围的精神相关物件，是在这条通道之后吗？」
“May I ask, what lies further atop this mountain? Is the large-scale mental-related object beyond this passage?”
｛只能选择一个。你获得我的秘技，我的使命便完成。上面的物品将由我获得。｝
{You may only choose one. Had you obtained my secret technique, my mission would be complete. The items above would have been claimed by me.}
物品！
Items!
关注这里的人心中齐齐一动，真的是个物品！
Everyone watching felt a jolt of excitement—there really was an item!
李智南忽地低头看向身旁，他感觉空气中刚才似乎有什么晃动了下。几乎与这人紧贴的无影赶紧保持安静站立姿态。刚刚自己只是因为激动而做出了大幅度的手臂握拳摆动动作，就差点让人发现。
Lee Zhinan suddenly looked down beside him, sensing that something seemed to have stirred in the air just now. The invisible figure, almost pressed against this man, quickly kept still. The earlier wave of excitement had made him swing his arm in a broad clenched-fist motion, nearly giving himself away.
列车中，隐入空气的洛宾轻声对杨子藏兴奋道，「说好的，这宝物归我。」
In the train, Robin Lo, melding into the air, whispered excitedly to Yang Zicang, “We agreed—this treasure is mine.”
杨子藏将脸撇过去，「再看吧。」
Yang Zicang turned his face away. “We’ll see.”
「靠，你可不准反悔。」
“Damn it, don’t you dare back out!”
外面的李智楠已经做好选择了。
Outside, Lee Zhinan had already made his choice.
｛你真的要放弃这样的秘技？在我们世界，这也不可多得，有它在手。不需就能掌控一月间培育出数十年树龄的树木。不需百年你就能成为森林之主。｝
{Are you really giving up such a secret skill? Even in our world, it’s rare to come by. Having it in hand takes mere months to cultivate trees that look decades old. In less than a century, you’d become the lord of the forest.}
自己当然想。
Of course, he was tempted.
李智南自嘲的一笑，「不用了，我想要上面的东西。」
Lee Zhinan let out a wry smile. “No need. I want whatever’s up there.”
｛好，反正我即将获得自由，你想去取，就去吧，将树核给我。｝
{Fair enough. Since I’m about to gain my freedom, go and retrieve it if you wish—just give me the tree core.}
被藤蔓包裹的木块逐渐长出无数稀碎的金色玉树般的枝丫，充满灵性气息，它幻化为一道树枝构成的金色光剑，被一道垂下的藤蔓所卷住！
The vine-wrapped block of wood slowly sprouted countless fine, golden jade-like branches, pulsing with a numinous air, as it transformed into a radiant sword of solid golden twigs—snatched up by a descending curl of vines!
刚要有所行动的杨子藏顿时再次安静下来。
Yang Zicang, who was about to make a move, suddenly fell silent again.
「怎么办？」洛宾看了他一眼。
“What now?” Robin Lo glanced at him.
「再等等。」
“Wait a little longer.”
杨子藏说完，忽然感觉手心全是汗。
Yang Zicang said this and suddenly felt his palms slick with sweat.
……
车外怪藤口吐人言的举剑道：
Outside the car, the strange vine—speaking in human tongue—held up the sword and said:
｛我这就为你劈开幻境屏障，有香主为你护航，你能轻松上去。第二层里面有曾经人类留下的械傀兵团的残留，你需要注意下。而且，最顶层那宝物已有一道灵魂在控制它，所以那宝物已算是有主之物。｝
{I’ll cleave open the illusion barrier for you now. With the Incense Master escorting you, you can ascend with ease. Inside the second layer, there’re remnants of a puppeted weapon legion left by humans of bygone ages—you need to watch out for them. What’s more, atop the highest layer, a spirit has already laid claim to that treasure; it’s no longer masterless.}
它笑了声继续道：
It chuckled and continued:
｛反正你若死了，那宝物依旧归我所有，让开点。｝
{Anyway, if you croak, the treasure still ends up back in my hands. Move aside.}
金色怪剑闪烁起暗沉的红色虚影，看得人头皮发麻，不知携带多少万年时序。
The strange golden sword flickered with a dim, crimson phantom that made onlookers’ scalps crawl—imbued with a thrust of time accumulated over who knows how many millenia of Chronos.
长剑斩下！
The long sword came slicing down!
｛破！｝
{Break!}
忽然周围隧道一片扭曲，如同水墨画被沁湿变形。
Suddenly the surrounding tunnel writhed and twisted, like an ink-wash painting soaking and deforming under seeping moisture.
这一刻，整个几十公里范围内，所有在夜间还在山中「寻宝」的人都感觉精神上的压力齐齐减轻。
In that instant, throughout a stretch of tens of kilometers, all the “treasure hunters” still combing the mountain under cover of night felt the oppressive weight on their spirits lighten in unison.
这份弥漫开的力量似乎在快速聚拢抵挡着什么。
That diffusing surge of power seemed to coalesce swiftly—bracing itself against something.
乃至于集市中的人都感受到了自山中所突然冒出荡开的锐利气息。
Even in the marketplace, people felt the keen, slashing aura surging and swelling from the mountain.
「发生了什么？」
“What’s happening?”
他们不由自主抬头，看向自北向南左边第三座高山。它整个突然扭曲起来，仿佛被无形能量搅动光线。
They involuntarily looked up toward the third towering mountain from left to right, stretching from north to south. The entire peak suddenly twisted and warped, as if the light were being stirred by an invisible force.
「好强横的力量。」
“What a formidable and overpowering presence.”
「有人进去那座山取宝了？！」
“Has someone entered that mountain to claim a treasure?!”
众人惊叹，在暗沉光线中的山峦似乎快要化为烟尘，随时都有消散的可能！其中那道金锐气息直刺苍穹，似要破山而出，斩尽一切。
The crowd exclaimed in awe. Under the gloom-dim light, the mountain seemed on the verge of dissolving into dust and ash, ready to vanish at any moment! Piercing through it, a golden, sharp aura stabbed straight into the heavens, as if it would burst out of the mountain and cleave everything in its path.
隧道深处，在这一剑砍下的同时，那道矗立山巅的幻象人影突然出现于此。
Deep within the tunnel, at the very instant that blade came slashing down, the phantom figure that had once stood towering atop the mountain suddenly appeared there.
人影浑身散发狂暴气息，双目一闪，便李智南疯狂大吼起来。
The figure radiated a frenzied, raging aura. With a mere flash of its eyes, it sent Li Zhinan bursting into insane, uncontrollable howls.
李智南仿佛瞧见绷带医生站在身前，用充满烈焰的手术刀对准自己的喉节，炭火灼烧般的刀不断刺入。
Li Zhinan saw an apparition of the bandaged surgeon standing before him, a scalpel blazing with flames aimed directly at his trachea. That knife, searing like charcoal fire, kept stabbing deep into him.
现实中，他自己的手抬起放在自己的喉咙上。
In reality, his own hand rose and clamped down on his own throat.
「啊！」
“Ah!”
李智南突然觉得自己周身被眼前灼热的手术刀引燃，真实灼烧的痛苦萦绕着自己的精神，刺痛着神经。
Li Zhinan suddenly felt his entire body ignited by the scorching scalpel in front of him. The unbearable agony of real burning engulfed his psyche and seared deep into his nerves.
他双手紧紧掐着自己脖子。
His hands wrapped tightly around his own neck, squeezing with all his might.
但不到两秒，周身花蔓疯狂绽放，灼热痛感迅速消减，仿佛这只是一个落在身上的巴掌。
But in less than two seconds, the flower vines all around burst into a wild, full bloom. The scalding pain rapidly faded away, as if it had been no more than the sting of a slap.
藤蔓疯狂卷动。
Vines writhed wildly.
金色长剑冲着幻影撞击而去。
The golden long sword shot towards the phantom.
｛我已解除镇压，你这窃宝的低劣灵魂还敢显身。｝
{I have lifted the suppression, you lowly soul, a treasure thief, still dare to show yourself.}
轰轰！
Boom! Boom!
仿佛开天辟地的一剑，山体内部直接炸开个大洞。
Like a sword that could cleave heaven and earth, it blasted a gaping hole directly into the mountain’s interior.
金色虚焰沿着洞壁长出金中带红的植物枯枝，疯狂延展如咆哮海浪卷曲向前。
Golden phantom flames sprouted along the walls of the hole, growing into withered branches of plants tinged with red, furiously extending like roaring waves curling forward.
幻影连续闪动后退了几下，才稳定下来。这一剑携带的劲风将幻影一只手臂斩断，虽然它快速长出，但淡薄了不少。
The phantom flickered and retreated several times before stabilizing. The gale force carried by this sword severed one of its arms; although it regrew quickly, it became considerably thinner.
｛停。 我们没必要争斗，他可以上来。｝
{Stop. There’s no need for us to fight. He can come up.}
「这就认输了？」 看著这一切的杨子藏和洛宾有点发怵，这一剑如果落在自己身上，肯定是两人直接变成灰灰。
“Surrendering just like that?” Watching all this, Yang Zicang and Robin Lo were somewhat horrified, feeling that if that sword had struck them, they would surely have turned to ash.
｛你这种没头没脑的蠢物，非要硬给你来一著，才晓得事不可为。 哼，还是我的剑厉害点。｝
{You brainless fool, beaten here can’t go wit’out leavin’. Hmph, my sword proved mightier still.}
藤蔓将它讥讽之后，不断游走缩回，露出大洞。
After taunting it, the vines slithered and retracted, revealing the large hole.
｛进去吧，小心上面的东西，以你的实力… 哼，我劝你寿命不多就尽早返回，只要将那宝物让给我，秘技依旧属于你。｝
{Go on in. Be careful of what’s above. With your strength… Hmph, I advise you to return early if your lifespan is short. Hand that treasure over to me, and the secret art shall still be yours.}
李智南喘息著隧道进入。
Lee Zhinan gasped as he entered the tunnel.
自己可没得选，背后那疯子只要宝物。
He had no choice—behind him, that madman wanted only the treasure.